Jumping signals is the most common traffic rule violation BEST bus drivers commit. At least that is what last year’s statistics say.
According to an RTI, 1,310 BEST drivers were fined Rs100 each for jumping signals. The other common violations are over speeding, lane cutting and illegal parking.
Transport experts say BEST drivers often flout rules as they have to reach the depots within a stipulated period of time.
“The BEST transport department policy compels the drivers to over speed, and this leads to accidents,” said Afzal Mohammed, a representative of the District Road Safety Committee and also an advisor to the Mumbai police traffic department.
Mohammed who procured the information through an RTI said that compared to 2008, there was a 15% increase in the number of offences registered against BEST driversin 2009.
The traffic police also cracked the whip after a spate of accidents in the last couple of years involving BEST drivers. “Our teams are posted at important junctions and they penalise BEST drivers based on the grabs appearing on CCTV footages which is connected to a central control room,” said a traffic department official.
BEST chairperson Dilip Patel said that an offence is an offence, no matter who the driver is. However, he added that the major contributing factors to the increasing number of violations is the numerous road construction and development work being carried out in the city.
As per the rules, a BEST driver is expected to drive at not more than 18 kmph. “Since, there are traffic jams and dug-up roads all over the city, BEST drivers often end up flouting rules,” said Patel.
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